Living together is a pagan way of preparing for marriage, says Cardinal Dziwisz

, Feb 12, 2008 / 06:50 pm (CNA).- The Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, expressed concern this week over the marriage crisis that is affecting Polish society and warned that the practice of cohabitation popular among young people is a pagan way of preparing for marriage.

In his Lenten pastoral letter, Cardinal Dziwisz—the former personal secretary of John Paul II—said “divorce and separation are a tragedy of wounded love” and he called on Poles to scrutinize the maturity of young people who present themselves for marriage.

The cardinal explained that many young people live together before marriage, often with the approval of their parents. “We must clarify that Christians cannot prepare for the sacrament of marriage in way that we must call pagan and that alters the natural order of things,” he said.

According to opinion polls, most Poles consider Lent an important period. 80% attend fewer parties during the season and 60% work on their personal conversion. At least half of those polled said they promise to be better during Lent.